Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 25:The transgenders now recognised as the third gender have been a neglected lot in the society for ages. But here is a group of devout  transgenders who are out to appease the Almighty with art. A group of five transgenders have decided to perform Yakshagana, for the first time in history, as a  service to appease Goddess Sri Devi. 

Pavanje Sri Jnanashakti Subrahmanya Swami Yakshagana Mandali will be presenting the Yakshagana episode, 'Sri Devi Mahatme', on February 25 evening in the Kodical Katte ground in the city. About 1,500 audiences are expected to watch the performance, and food is being arranged for them. The family of a transgender, Aishwarya, and others like her living in Ashok Nagar Dambel have arranged for this performance. They have decided not to accept any donations, and use the money they have saved out of their earnings for offering this service to the goddess. The people are appreciative of their gesture.

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Aishwarya was born in a well-known family in Kulshekar here but was neglected by the members. "Five people including me, who hail from Mangaladevi, Pumpwell and other areas have been staying together in a rented house. All of us are graduates and are working in private offices without resorting to sex work. We do not indulge in extravagant expenditure and are using money so saved for noble purposes," she stated.

She said that they pray to God before starting any work and as a form of gratitude for the favours showered on them by the Goddess, they would be doing a Yakshagana performance which they say is dear to the Devi. Aishwarya said she is grateful to Patla Satish Shetty for providing them an opportunity to organize the performance even though the shows of the troupe are booked for a year in advance. Aishwarya stated that instead of organizing lavish parties for birthdays, she had decided to celebrate her birthday which was in December, by organizing a Yakshagana performance.

Patla Satish Shetty, Pavanje troupe convener, lauded the transgenders for supporting the Yakshagana artistes by organizing these performances despite leading a challenging life.